Electronic real estate bartering system

Abstract

A real estate bartering system implements barters between a plurality of parties each having one or more classes of items available for barter. Preferably, barter orders are created by designating a selected quantity of a first class of items to be bartered, designating a date range for transferring title of the first class items to be bartered, designating a barter value of the first class of items to be bartered, and designating a second class of items to be acquired. Barter orders are posted via the Internet to a barter database and may be displayed via the Internet. Posted barter orders whose first class of items match the second class of items of a barterer's order are preferably displayed. Posted barter orders from the display are selected to effectuate a barter transaction which combines a barterer's barter order with the selected posted order(s).

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method for exchanging a first real estate item for a second real estate item comprising: 
 identifying for exchange a first real estate item owned by a first user;    designating criteria associated with an exchange of the first real estate item for a second real estate item owned by a second user;    requesting a list of real estate items including the second real estate item, each real estate item in the list meeting the criteria associated with the exchange;    selecting the second real estate item for exchange; and    receiving a confirmation of the exchange.    
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method for exchanging real estate items comprising: 
 receiving an identification of a first real estate item owned by a first user offered for exchange;    receiving criteria associated with an exchange of the first real estate item for a second real estate item owned by a second user;    generating a list of real estate items including the second real estate item, each barter item in the list meeting the criteria associated with the exchange;    receiving a selection of the second real estate item for exchange; and    transmitting a confirmation of the exchange to the first and second users.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second real estate item is a lease property.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a value representing a number of bedrooms associated with the first real estate item.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a value representing a number of bedrooms associated with the second real estate item.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a date range within which the second real estate item is available for use.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a range of credit available to be added to the value of the first real estate item.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a range of credit available to be added to the value of the second real estate item.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the criteria includes a location near which the second real estate item is located.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3  further including processing at least one fee associated with the exchange.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fee is a flat fee.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fee is an annual fee.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fee is based on a value of the first real estate item.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fee is based on a value of the second real estate item.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method for exchanging a plurality of real estate items among a plurality of users, the method comprising: 
 identifying for exchange the plurality of real estate items, each real estate item owned by a distinct user;    identifying a first criteria associated with each real estate item;    identifying a second criteria associated with each user;    matching the first criteria with the second criteria to determine a plurality of exchanges; and    transmitting confirmation of the plurality of exchanges to each user.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of transmitting includes:  
       providing a user with a list of available exchanges from which to select; and  
       receiving a selection of at least one available exchange.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of real estate items is more than two.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the second criteria includes a difference in value between real estate items.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of transmitting further includes transmitting a confirmation to each user, each confirmation including information relating only to the associated user.